CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The University of Cincinnati women’s tennis team topped California University of Pennsylvania 5-2 on Saturday afternoon to earn its fifth straight victory. Freshman Kelly Poggensee-Wei (Lake Villa, Ill./Grayslake North) collected two solid wins in singles and doubles action to lead the Bearcats.

“All of the matches today were tough” said head coach Angela Wilson. “The team showed a lot of fight and heart. It was a great match to prepare us for Pittsburgh tomorrow.”

The five straight wins for the Bearcats is the longest winning streak since the team won seven consecutive matches from March 14-April 10, 2009. The win improves UC to a 9-7 record this season, topping the eight victories it earned in 2012.

The Bearcats kicked off the match by winning on two of three doubles courts to take an early 1-0 lead. The duo of Poggensee-Wei and sophomore Kristina Georgieva (Varna, Bulgaria/Varna Sports School) dominated Cal. U’s Maxime Colen and Jade Pondicas 8-0 in the third position. Juniors Ashleigh Witte (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) and Sierra Sullivan (Austin, Texas/Khabele School) battled through a tight match before coming out on top with a 9-7 decision over Alexandra Borgenhoff and Ramona Czakon in the second slot.

In singles play, Cincinnati won on courts No. 3 through 6 to earn the victory. Freshman Hannah Wille (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway Central) downed Pondicas 6-2, 6-2 in the fifth position for her sixth consecutive singles victory. Poggensee-Wei picked up her team-leading 11th win of the season by topping Lucie Rey 6-4, 6-4 on court No. 4. Georgieva overcame a tight first set to win 7-6, 6-3 over Colen in the sixth hole while Witte came from down one set to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 on court No. 3.

The Bearcats will be back in action on Sun., April 7 when they travel to BIG EAST foe Pittsburgh for an 11 a.m. match.